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speaker shoot-out at Tweeter - Polk vs Focal

Posted by mbmiller@bcpl.net (A) on November 16, 2007 at 04:45:22

Focal won, as you might expect, but not by much. It was the Polk LSI 15 vs the Focal 918, a $1500 speaker (Polk) matched against the $4000 Focal. The 918 was airier, more open, the Polk less so and more directional. During musical peaks (ex: Pavoratti's cresendos in Rodolpho's aria in the first act of La Boheme, London cd) both sounded strained at times, the result, perhaps, of the sales guy cranking up the volume of a 100/ch "mid-fi" amp. The speakers seemed evenly matched in bass extention and high end. Overall, though, the Focal was smoother, sweeter, warmer. Cost no object, I'd go with the Focal. Still, even though both fit my budget, I'd save the $2500 between the two and take home the Polk (more bang for the buck by far). (Too bad Tweeter didn't have the Focal 1027 bee in stock for a shoot-out between it and the 918, but that's for another store on another day).

I invite comments by those with a similar experience.

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